Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 125 (2017GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Owens, D.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• enacts provisions governing the school district of residency for a child who is receiving services from a health care facility or human services program; and
• makes technical and conforming corrections.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

STUDENT RESIDENCY AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Derrin R. Owens
Senate Sponsor: 
 Ralph Okerlund
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions governing a student's school district of residence.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ enacts provisions governing the school district of residency for a child who is
receiving services from a health care facility or human services program; and
▸ makes technical and conforming corrections.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53A-2-201
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 282
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53A-2-201
 is amended to read:
53A-2-201.
Child's school district of residence -- Determination -- Responsibility
for providing educational services.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Health care facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
26-21-2
.
(b) "Human services program" means the same as that term is defined in Section
62A-2-101
.
[
(1)
] 
(2)
 The school district of residence of a minor child whose custodial parent or
legal guardian resides within Utah is:
(a) the school district in which the custodial parent or legal guardian resides; or
(b) the school district in which the child resides:
(i) while in the custody or under the supervision of a Utah state agency;
(ii) while under the supervision of a private or public agency which is in compliance
with Section 
62A-4a-606
 and is authorized to provide child placement services by the state;
(iii) while living with a responsible adult resident of the district, if a determination has
been made in accordance with rules [
of the district board of education
] 
made by the State
Board of Education in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
Act,
 that:
(A) the child's physical, mental, moral, or emotional health [
would
] 
will
 best be served
by considering the child to be a resident for school purposes;
(B) exigent circumstances exist [
which would
] 
that do
 not permit the case to be
appropriately addressed under Section 
53A-2-207
; and
(C) considering the child to be a resident of the district under this [
subsection would
]
Subsection (2)(b)(iii) does
 not violate any other law or rule of the State Board of Education;
[
or
]
(iv) while the child is receiving services from a health care facility or human services
program, if a determination has been made in accordance with rules made by the State Board of
Education in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, that:
(A) the child's physical, mental, moral, or emotional health will best be served by
considering the child to be a resident for school purposes;
(B) exigent circumstances exist that do not permit the case to be appropriately
addressed under Section 
53A-2-207
; and
(C) considering the child to be a resident of the district under this Subsection (2)(b)(iv)
does not violate any other law or rule of the State Board of Education; or
[
(iv)
] 
(v)
 if the child is married or has been determined to be an emancipated minor by
a court of law or by a state administrative agency authorized to make that determination.
[
(2)
] 
(3)
 A minor child whose custodial parent or legal guardian does not reside in the
state is considered to be a resident of the district in which the child lives, unless that
designation violates any other law or rule of the State Board of Education, if:
(a) the child is married or an emancipated minor under Subsection [
(1)(b)(iv); or
]
(2)(b)(v);
(b) the child lives with a resident of the district who is a responsible adult and whom
the district agrees to designate as the child's legal guardian under Section 
53A-2-202
; or
(c) if permissible under policies adopted by [
the
] 
a
 local school board, it is established
to the satisfaction of the local school board that:
(i) the child lives with a responsible adult who is a resident of the district and is the
child's noncustodial parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, or aunt;
(ii) the child's presence in the district is not for the primary purpose of attending the
public schools;
(iii) the child's physical, mental, moral, or emotional health [
would
] 
will
 best be served
by considering the child to be a resident for school purposes; and
(iv) the child is prepared to abide by the rules and policies of the school and school
district in which attendance is sought.
[
(3)
] 
(4)
 (a) If admission is sought under Subsection [
(1)
] 
(2)
(b)(iii), or [
(2)
] 
(3)
(c),
then the district may require the person with whom the child lives to be designated as the
child's custodian in a durable power of attorney, issued by the party who has legal custody of
the child, granting the custodian full authority to take any appropriate action, including
authorization for educational or medical services, in the interests of the child.
(b) Both the party granting and the party empowered by the power of attorney shall
agree to:
(i) assume responsibility for any fees or other charges relating to the child's education
in the district; and
(ii) if eligibility for fee waivers is claimed under Section 
53A-12-103
, provide the
school district with all financial information requested by the district for purposes of
determining eligibility for fee waivers.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 
75-5-103
, a power of attorney meeting the requirements of
this section and accepted by the school district shall remain in force until the earliest of the
following occurs:
(i) the child reaches the age of 18, marries, or becomes emancipated;
(ii) the expiration date stated in the document; or
(iii) the power of attorney is revoked or rendered inoperative by the grantor or grantee,
or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
[
(4)
] 
(5)
 A power of attorney does not confer legal guardianship.
[
(5)
] 
(6)
 Each school district is responsible for providing educational services for all
children of school age who are residents of the district.
[
(6) Students who were enrolled in a Utah public school by October 1, 1992, and
would, but for this part, have been allowed to attend public schools without payment of tuition
shall be permitted to continue their attendance until graduation or termination of enrollment on
the same basis as Utah resident students.
]
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